Class of 1902
What a life! This column is a real problem in mathematics. We try to mete according to our measure, and along comes ye Editor to say "Watchword is our Economy. Scribes must relate shorter but more amusing tales." I wonder if he suspects how much padding has accompanied the items passed on to you. But the point is this: If you do not want the MAGAZINE to curtail any of its features, then get busy and help us build up a bigger subscription list.
Only April, May, and June left for this year, and I have to tell you that it now looks as if I were going to lose that bet. To my 146 letters mailed last September 10 there have been received at this writing 24 replies. I bet on at least 40! I haven't given up hope, but I must say that some of you fellows go into hibernation mighty early in the winter.
Spent part of the Christmas recess at the Science meetings in Pittsburgh. Tried to make contact with Mr. Drake, but he would go out and play golf just when science is uppermost. However, I got a big kick out of calling him up. Believe it or not, that was the first time in my life that I have ever dialed a call. Regular phones in my office and at my home, paid a porter a shilling in London to dial a tuppence call, but here had to go on my own. Believe it or not, I got the number!
Did anybody remember me at Christmas? Sure they did, and you are happy to learn that the Edsons are still hustling, Clara and Leslie Farr as thoughtful as ever, Frank Moore on the job, Baker Keniston busy, but nevertheless sent me two letters (he forgot to put into his first the clipping which was his ostensible reason for writing). Joe Wright sent a good word and so did Charlie Dudley. Arba Irvin remembered the day, and some of the rest of you wish you had. Just to give you another chance, my birthday, which ordinarily comes on December 29, I have postponed until March 17, and I shall expect then a lot of good wishes from those of you who were too busy in December.
A VISIT FROM SHORTY
But Shorty Sanborn beat you all! He came out to see us at home. Ran away from Providence for a breathing spell. He and his good wife did New York and made a great climax by ending up in Leonia. Had to hurry away, must get the six o'clock train, did X expect him to try sleeping accommodations on the train. But we are proud of Shorty, every inch of him, and how well he carries that 240 pounds. Glad to hear of the three boys, who still look up to their father. The baby, who graduated from high school last June, is of course the smallest of the three, but Shorty thinks he may develop if he goes to college next year. He is only a little over six feet.
Of course you read the account of the 24th annual intercollegiate tournament at Lake Placid during the week after Christmas, and noted that Warren Chivers, the sophomore son of Professor Arthur H. Chivers, was the star of the meet.
Mose Perkins avoided the Christmas rush by writing early in December. .The big item about Mose is his initiation into the growing grandfathers' club. Barbara Mann, daughter of Philip J. Mann Jr. and Eleanor Perkins Mann, was born August 2, 1934- The attending physician was the chief of staff of the Cambridge Hospital, James Lincoln Huntington. Jimmy, according to Mose, is superior excellence personified, which is in line with other reports which have come to me, though not from Jimmy. Mose enclosed a picture of grandfather and the baby, which I am glad to file with the permanent records.
We called the other Sunday on Roy and Bertha Hatch over in Montclair. Found them in their usual happy mood. Roy had a yarn I'd never heard before about Dave Pratt and his prowess with the rifle. Henniker Sanborn was said to have been in the party, and I'd like to hear Hennik give the tale. I don't imagine that the epic has shrunk any during the past thirty-odd years. If only there were time to run around a bit more, one might unearth a lot more of this folklore.
Had a fine letter from Bob Goodell some time ago, but it is still good. You remember that Robert Jr. ('33, A.M. Princeton '34) is studying this year in Munich. Bob's second son is a sophomore at Princeton. Bob himself has been borrowed by the city of New York from his regular company to take charge of the administrative and planning of the new centralized purchasing and stores system. That's brief enough to suit ye Editor, but it is none the less a record of achievement of which we are proud. I like it particularly as it is the sort of thing which proves to ourselves that we are still able to keep going. Some people seem to feel that when a man gets past forty he is through, no use paying any more attention to such fellows. That kind of philosophy may be an inspiration to extreme youth, but in point of fact we all know that we still have much ahead of us. Here's to renewed strength and courage to make much of that future.
PERCY DORR GETS TRIBUTE
By the way, I don't suppose you all read the Springfield Union, or see its feature "Springfield Personalities," or in particular saw that feature in one of the fall issues. The "Personality" presented was that of Percy Dorr. I wish I could have the whole section reproduced here, but it will have to be sufficient to say that the picture was really not bad, and that probably we all could have added numerous interesting events of Percy's career which weren't mentioned. Anyway we are glad to know that Springfield appreciates worth.
Frank. Moore writes:
"Tom Barnes and wife made us a shortvisit last month! Same old Tom. Wehadn't met for more than twenty years.My memorabilia book of Dartmouth viewswas duly inspected and mutually enjoyed.I think we appreciated most of all thephoto given me by Harmony Morse whichshowed President Tucker and Chuck Emerson about to enter the old administrationbuilding.
"In August my son Francis and I spenta week in Chicago, principally at the Fair.I ran into Phil Fox at the Adler Planetarium and appreciated the cordial receptionhe gave us."
Thanks, Frank. You see you hit three birds with one stone, and that's some shooting. But I have a great letter from Tom Barnes, which is so good that I have reread it several times, but haven't printed yet, solely because I have to be sure I've got enough material to last.
Apparently Ducky Drake and Doctor Art Ruggles are men of leisure, so they had to go on that committee to study the fraternity situation. But when you look into it, you have to characterize them as men of action, and that's what that committee needs. I am inclined to believe that neither one of them could qualify in my subject, because it appears that they do not obey the law of conservation of energy.
Secretary, 130 Woodridge Place, Leonia, N. J
